- When importing video and audio into Adobe Premiere Pro, it processes versions of these files that it can readily access for faster performance. These are referred to as media cachefiles. These are stored in the Media Cache Files folder. In addition, there is a folder containing a database, which retains links to each of the media cache files.
- In this tutorial I show you how you can clean up some hard drive space in the spirit of spring cleaning.
Dec 06, 2018 If you're on a Mac, simply open up Premiere Pro and go to Premiere Preferences Media Cache. If you're on a PC, simply go to Edit Preferences Media Cache. From here, click the Delete button, and choose one of the options: delete unused media cache data in the current project or delete all media files from the system. The media cache is where Premiere Pro stores accelerator files, including peak files (.pek) and conformed audio (.cfa). Premiere Pro can make thousands of call to these files every second). For more information, see Set Media Cache preferences. Learn with Hollywood Production Expert Karl Soule as he explains Media Cache files work in Premiere Pro. Karl explains why Media Cache is created, how the Me.
This page is a companion document to the system requirements for Premiere Pro and After Effects. It provides additional information on system components and considerations for optimal performance.
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The four key variables for a great video production system are memory, storage, graphics, and your processor.
Memory
Professional video workflows rely on system memory. A good video editing workstation should have at least 32GB of memory— and as much as 128GB.
Storage/hard drives
Fast storage is critical for video production. Use solid-state NVMe or SSD storage. Unless you have a fast RAID array, spinning disks generally do not offer sufficient speed for HD and 4K video production.
The best way to achieve excellent performance (and to keep different types of files organized) is to spread the load between multiple drives. An optimal setup has three drives:
- System drive for OS and applications
- Drive for the media cache
- Media drive (or shared storage)
Only have two drives? Use a fast external drive for your media and Media Cache.
The media cache is where Premiere Pro stores accelerator files, including peak files (.pek) and conformed audio (.cfa). Premiere Pro can make thousands of call to these files every second). For more information, see Set Media Cache preferences.
- NVMe Flash memory drives with Thunderbolt 3.0 connectivity are excellent.
- SSD drives with USB 3.1 connectivity are also good - but have a 4TB limit.
Graphics
The GPU is used for onscreen rendering and export, priority areas for video production. Premiere Pro is engineered to take advantage of the GPU. After Effects is also GPU-optimized.
- Graphics card with at least 4GB of memory (VRAM).
- (Optional) Multiple GPUs, including eGPUs, can be used to speed up rendering and export.
Out-of-date graphics drivers are one of the most common causes of performance issues with video applications. For optimal performance, make sure you have the latest drivers for your GPU, including integrated Intel GPUs. For more information, see GPU and GPU Driver Requirements for Premiere Pro.
Processor/GPU
For CPUs, clock speed matters more for After Effects. Multiple cores have more impact for Premiere Pro. The sweet spot for running both applications is a fast CPU with 8 cores.
- Core i7 or Core i9 Intel processors or AMD equivalents are strongly recommended.
- Fast clock speed at least 3.2 GHz, or higher.
- 8 cores are ideal for Premiere Pro. The application can use more cores, but without significant added benefit. Depending on the task, Premiere Pro runs at 93-98% efficiency with 8 cores.
H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) are widely used capture formats for DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, action cameras, and phones. H.264 is also the preferred format for uploading to YouTube and social media sites. These compressed formats are well suited for capture and distribution, but they are processor-intensive for post-production.
If you work with H.264 and H.265, consider Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors, which offer Quick Sync hardware acceleration, supported in both Premiere Pro and After Effects.
AMD and Intel Xeon processors work well for other formats, such as cinema camera formats, (such as RED, Sony Venice, ARRI) and broadcast formats (such as XDCam HD).
Adding memory is the easiest and usually most impactful place to start if you want to upgrade your system to improve performance for both Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Upgrade Premiere Pro system in this order of priority:
- More RAM — up to 128GB if your motherboard supports it.
- A faster GPU (or additional GPUs) for faster rendering and export
- Faster (or more) NVMe or SSD drives
- Faster CPU
Upgrade your After Effects system in this order of priority:
- More RAM — 128GB is a good target for top-of-the-line systems.
- Faster (or more) SSD or NVMe drives
- Faster GPU (or additional GPUs) for faster rendering and export
- Faster CPU
Export times are impacted both by your graphics hardware and your workflow. A second GPU (same class GPU as the primary GPU) can provide substantial speed increases for export. Creating previews during your edit can also accelerate export times.
Assuming you have a good system, performance for multicam workflows is more dependent on your project setup than your hardware. Expert users create their own project templates to standardize their setup.
A calibrated reference monitor connected through external transmit hardware is highly recommended for accurate display of interlaced and color critical content. Proper monitoring of HDR content requires an HDR-capable external display.
This is a matter of personal preference. Because the timeline is a central element in the Premiere Pro UI, an ultra wide 37' display combined with a second reference monitor is an excellent option.
Simultaneous monitoring of multi-channel audio requires a multi-channel sound card. On Windows the sound card should be ASIO-capable.
Your workflow, and how you decide to work with file formats, can have a significant impact on overall performance. Our best practices guide for working with native formats has suggestions for designing your workflow to ensure optimal performance with your hardware.
- Puget Systems recommendations for Premiere Pro
- Puget Systems recommendations for After Effects
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In this walkthrough, we'll look at how to optimize your editing workflow — and which settings to check if Premiere Pro is running slow.
Laggy playback is probably the most frequent complaint from Premiere Pro users. I recently completed a deep-dive into Adobe's Premiere Pro troubleshooting pages and their community forums, and I've complied a list of solutions that you can try if Premiere Pro is lagging.
It's important to remain realistic about your computer's hardware and specs. (Especially when it comes to editing 4K video or videos with lots of effects.) Also, if you're in the middle of a project, I strongly recommend against updating any Adobe CC apps until you've finished. Updating Adobe CC apps in the middle of a project is asking for trouble. (If you do update them, at least don't uninstall the previous CC versions.)
We're going to cover settings and general workflow tips that should improve your Premiere Pro experience. Best vmware for mac.
Quickest Solutions for the Most Improvement
If you're in a hurry to find out why Premiere Pro is running slow, these four solutions typically offer the most dramatic speed improvement.
Turn on GPU Acceleration
Under Project Settings, make sure the Renderer is set to GPU Acceleration. If the GPU Acceleration option is grayed out, you may need to update your graphics card drivers. If you update them, and the option is still grayed out, Premiere Pro may not support your graphics card.
Make certain the Renderer is set to GPU Acceleration.
Lower Playback Resolution
This one seems pretty obvious, but it'll make a drastic difference if you lower the playback resolution. Adjust the setting to 1/2 or 1/4 in the bottom-right corner of the Preview Window.
You can also make sure High Quality Playback is disabled. Click on the Wrench icon right next to the Resolution setting, and then make sure High Quality Playback is unchecked.
Purge Media Cache Files
Sometimes old cache files can be the culprit. Navigate to Media Cache in Preferences. Then select Delete Unused.
Make sure you delete unused media cache files.
Save Cache Files to a Secondary SSD
Finally, it's also recommended to save your media cache files and scratch disk files to a secondary drive — preferably an internal SSD — for the best playback performance. In fact, Puget Systems claims this is the number one thing you can do to increase performance with Premiere Pro. If you have to use an external SSD, make sure it's rated for USB 3.0 and you have it plugged into a USB 3.0 port. (USB 3.0 is usually indicated with the color blue on the port or connector.)
To change the cache file location, navigate to Media Cache in Preferences.
In Preferences, scroll down to Media Cache to change the cache file location.
To change the scratch disk file location, navigate to Scratch Disks under Project Settings. (Note that you will need to set the Scratch Disks settings for every new project you work on. Premiere Pro doesn't save that Project Setting location like it does for Media Cache files.)
Under Project Settings, navigate to Scratch Disks in order to change the scratch disk's file location.
Settings to Check
Here's a list of other settings you may want to change in Premiere Pro for faster playback. Experiment with these, as results will vary depending on your workstation.
Media Cache Files Premiere
Optimize Rendering for Performance
Under Preferences, navigate to Memory and set Optimize Rendering for Performance.
Navigate to Memory, then set Optimize Rendering for Performance.
Disable Auto Save
Frequent auto saves can sometimes slow down your machine. (For me, auto save usually crashes my Adobe apps more than it actually saves them. But try this recommendation at your own risk!) Navigate to Auto Save under Preferences to turn it off.
Disable Mercury Transmit
Mercury Transmit is typically used to send your preview window to external screens. If you aren't using one, turn this feature off. Navigate to Playback under Preferences to disable it.
Under Playback, disable Mercury Transmit to further quicken the process.
Disable Refresh Growing Files
Automatically Refresh Growing Files is a setting typically used for live broadcast productions. Some Premiere Pro users have reported getting better performance with it turned off. To disable it, navigate to Media under Preferences.
Another trick for a better performance, disable Automatically Refresh Growing Files.
Check for Updates
If your current version of Premiere Pro suddenly becomes laggy, check for updates for your operating system and graphics card. Doing this has frequently helped solve issues for me, as more often than not, there's an update available. (However, if you're in the middle of a project and everything is working normal, don't update anything!)
Checking for updates for both your operating system and graphics card can help with a lagging computer.
Workflow Tips
Here's a list of practices you can use when editing to optimize your workflow. (And hopefully increase preview speed!)
Don't Edit Files on a Memory Card
Even though memory cards are flash memory, they're not ideal for direct editing. In other words, offload files from your memory card to a separate drive, then edit with those files in Premiere Pro.
Use Proxy Files
Using proxy files when you edit is another technique that's sure to get you better playback in Premiere Pro. Using proxy files is basically substituting a lower-resolution version of your footage in while you edit. It'll then switch back to your high-resolution footage when it's time to render. In this quick tip article, Robbie Janney covers how to create proxies in Premiere Pro.
Avoid Editing Files with Compressed Codecs
While compressed codecs are great for recording or uploading, they aren't ideal for editing. Compressed codecs, such as H.264, take more time to decompress while editing, so they frequently have laggy playback. Codecs like ProRes, Cineform, and DNxHD are more ideal for editing. Again, an easy way to get around this is to just use proxy files.
Render Dynamic Linked Comps
If you have any portion of your video timeline linked to After Effects or another Adobe CC app, you can quickly render and replace those for faster playback. Simply right-click on the Dynamic Linked sections of your edit, then select Render and Replace.
For faster playback, use the Render and Replace option.
Turn Off Video Effects
Multiple video effects can put a heavy strain on previews, as well. You can try turning off individual effects before you preview, or use the Global FX Mute button to turn off all effects.
If you don't see the Global FX Mute button in your Preview Window, you can add it by selecting the Plus icon, then drag and drop it into the Preview Window tool bar.
Here's how to add the Global FX Mute button.
Close Lumetri Scopes
If you have the Lumetri Scopes panel open, close it up before trying to play back your footage in the timeline.
Adobe Premiere Free Mac
Close the Lumetri Scopes Panel before you play back your footage.
Render In to Out
If all else fails, you may just have to set an in-point and an out-point and select Render In and Out under Sequence settings. It'll take some time to render previews of the footage in your timeline. After which, it should playback in real time, until other changes are made to the edit.
Dropped Frame Indicator
Premiere Pro also has a built-in Dropped Frame Indicator that can signal to you if you're skipping frames during playback. (You'll likely already be aware of this if you see visible lag during playback.) Click the wrench icon at the bottom right of the Preview Window, then select Show Dropped Frame Indicator. You'll see a small green dot that'll turn yellow or red, if there are dropped frames during playback.
Adobe Premiere Media Cache Files Mac Os
If you seem to be skipping frames during playback, select the Show Dropped Frame Indicator.
Looking for more Premiere Pro tips? Check these out.
